Abstrakt
The article examines the significance role of memory in Walter Benjamin's late philosophy of history and draws major inspiration from the works and ideas of Henri Bergson, Marcel Proust and Gilles Deleuze. For some of their thoughts and concepts regarding memory help to see Benjamin's reflections on historiography in new light and make them more understandable.
The major claim of this study is that Benjamin was concerned with the past as such, speaking in Deleuze's terms, and that for this reason the only source of historiographical writing he considered legitimate was memory. In its refusal to rely on documents and factual data and in turning towards pure memory instead, Benjamin's theory of history reveals itself as profoundly philosophical.
This essay will try to show why such a philosophical attitude towards history can provide some valuable insights as regards the contemporary historical studies.